Alliance Develops Plan to Prevent and Control Noncommunicable Diseases

Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Alliance Develops Plan to Prevent and Control Noncommunicable Diseases

The
NCD Alliance has published a detailed response to the World Health
Organization's (WHO) draft on a 2013-2020 global action plan
on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The alliance's 4-point plan includes
recommendations on leadership, aim, and scope; principles, objectives, and
action points; resourcing and implementation; and measuring progress,
reporting, and accountability.

The
plan says that the absence of a formal mechanism at the global level to
catalyze multisectoral action and collaboration on NCDs has been a major
weakness in the global NCD response to date. In 2011, the United Nations
mandated governments to work with "all relevant stakeholders" to
strengthen action on NCDs through effective partnerships, the alliance says.

According to a 2010 report from WHO, physical inactivity is 1 of 4 risk
factors that contributes to 80% of all NCDs. The other 3 risk factors are
tobacco use, the harmful use of alcohol, and poor diet.

Last year,
APTA's House of Delegates adopted Physical
Therapists as Expert Providers for Exercise and Physical Activity—recognizing
physical therapists as health service delivery providers of choice to prevent
or treat NCDs and their related risk factors. The position
holds that APTA seeks participation in the development and/or update of
physical activity or exercise guidelines for NCDs.